A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust

Silas's face darkened instantly. He looked downright annoyed.

Monty shot Zelda a glare. "What on earth are you talking about, Zelda? That's not your place to say! This is Callie's home. It's Silas's home, too. They're free to stay wherever they want, pick any room they like. Every room is theirs for the choosing."

He wouldn't dare cross Calliope now, not to mention Silas. Either one of them could make his life hell.

And Zelda's words? If Silas took them the wrong way, he'd probably think the family didn't want him here.

"Silas, don't pay her any mind. This is your home, too."

Silas ignored Monty, his eyes cool as he glanced at Horatio and the others.

Valerian, meanwhile, was in a fantastic mood. Calliope had promised to give him the car he'd been daydreaming about but could never afford. Now even Silas seemed like the best brother-in-law in the world.

"Hey, Silas, make yourself at home, man!" Valerian grinned. "You're Callie's husband, which makes you our brother-in-law. We're glad to have you here!"

Horatio nodded. "We're all family. No need for formalities."

Just then, a housekeeper entered with a man in tow. "Ma'am, sir, this gentleman's brought a new family portrait. Would you like it hung up?"

The housekeeper glanced at the old portrait hanging on the wall. That one didn't have Calliope in it, but it'd been up there for years.

This new photo was all of them, with Calliope front and center.

The housekeeper wasn't sure if it should replace the old one or just get tucked away somewhere.

"Take the old one down and hang this one up," Monty said without hesitation.

"That'll make Lisette upset!" Zelda protested, frowning.

Monty shot her a cold look. "When Callie wasn't in the old photo, and she was hurt by it, did you say anything then?"

Valerian chimed in, "Yeah, let's hang the new one. It fits better."

He couldn't help smiling at Calliope. She was actually giving him the car of his dreams! She was practically glowing in his eyes. Getting closer to this sister of his seemed like the best idea ever.

Callie really did care about them. She still needed them. A photo was no big deal, right? And anyway, the old portrait with Lisette had been up for long enough.

Valerian helped the delivery guy hang the new picture.

This time, Lisette wasn't in it, just the rest of the family, beaming on the front porch

of the house. It looked fantastic, everyone agreed.

A little while later, Lisette walked in.noveldrama

Everyone was gathered around, admiring the new portrait. She hadn't noticed at first, but when she followed their gaze, her face went pale.

The family portrait had been changed! The old one with her in it was gone, replaced by a new photo-Calliope front and center, Lisette nowhere to be seen.

"When did you take this?" Lisette's voice trembled.

They hadn't even invited her? Had they just... cast her out? She'd already had a rough day at work, now this?

"It was while you were... away,"

Calliope said, meeting Lisette's eyes.

"It's not that we didn't want you in

the photo. But you were the one who locked yourself away, remember? Can't really blame us for that can you?"

She returned Lisette's old words to her, word for word.